What Mac Should I Get for Editing and Light Gaming and Music Recording?

OK, so I'm looking to buy a Mac for video editing with programs like Final Cut Pro, music recording software, and a little bit of League of Legends every once in a while. I NEED it to be fast and able to run powerful programs! I'm trying to decide whether to buy a 15 inch core i5 MacBook Pro, a 2012 13 inch MacBook Pro (base model, when it comes out), a core i3 27 inch iMac, or a 21 inch core i5 iMac. Keep in mind, if I get a notebook/laptop, I will also get an external monitor and, whatever computer I buy, I will install an after market SSD, fully upgrade the RAM, and buy an external hard drive. Can you help me choose?

gaming editing help screen imac processor recording mac macbook video ssd air pro

asked Sep 05 '11 at 14:31

Youngmac
30●16●16●19

edited Dec 14 '11 at 15:17

Fogarty ♦♦
11.7k●12●27●38

5 Answers:

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first of all u can never get the best bang for the buck with laptops or all-in-ones and especially macs.

Also if you are only spending 1.8 grand get a pc.

answered Sep 05 '11 at 15:17

jaewan
106●1●2

(im not ganna spend over 1800.00)

(Sep 05 '11 at 14:42) Youngmac

Get a more powerful PC for a lower price, and actually be able to play LoL because the Mac support is being shut down?

(Sep 05 '11 at 15:14) korin125

If you MUST get a MAC, just go to apple.com and build one. Let me tell you, though, as a music producer, you will find - unless you plan to use MAC-Only products - any major production software is going to be available on both Mac and Windows, or Windows Only. For flexibility, I recommend Windows machines. But, if you feel more comfortable using a Mac and you have a budget, get the best in hardware you can get.

Put your focus in CPU cores/speed (I'd recommend at least a Quad-core CPU 2.8hz or more.) Combine a great CPU with an SSD and a fair amount of RAM (I'd say no less than 4GB) you'll have a good machine.

answered Dec 14 '11 at 05:24

David Crandall
91●1●1●5

The i5 iMac sounds like the best option. I'm fairly certain it will work alright as far as processing power goes. I have a Core 2 Duo iMac with 3GB of ram and I'm constantly running full 16+ track Pro Tools and Logic Pro sessions and plugins without any issues.

answered Dec 14 '11 at 07:48

MagicTrax
376●1●5●11

Except budget issues as compared to a Windows PC. it's a huge price difference for this guy.

(Dec 15 '11 at 02:20) xedric14

True, but if does want to use Final Cut Pro, that happens to be a Mac only application.

(Jan 01 '12 at 17:42) MagicTrax

0	im sure the mac book air would be enough i was watching a soldierknowsbest video and he said he does video editing on his mac book air and it work just fine answered Dec 15 '11 at 02:22 kingnazz 271●13●17●20

0	Curently, i would get a mac mini with a 2.6 i7 (If oure gona upgrae the ram, buy a moniter and get a exteral cd drive, go with the econd mac mini there is. ( if yu nice, it has the same spes s some as the macbok pro's) answered Dec 29 '12 at 21:49 Joe Fullington 1●1●3●4

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Asked: Sep 05 '11 at 14:31

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Last updated: Dec 29 '12 at 21:49

What Mac Should I Get for Editing and Light Gaming and Music Recording?

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